Gemini Zodiac Bath Blend - Bath Blend of the Month

Gemini is an Air sign ruled by Mercury, associated with communication, curiosity, and a light, energetic spirit. A bath blend for Gemini should be mentally refreshing, gently uplifting, and soothing to help ground their often-busy minds.

♊ Gemini Zodiac Bath Blend

Purpose: To refresh the mind, relax the body, and bring clarity and calm to Gemini's energetic spirit.

• 2 Tbsp Gemini Zodiac Herb Blend
  (Includes herbs lemon balm, lavender, dill, marjoram, and licorice root—aromatic, stimulating, and clarifying.)

• 1/4 cup Epsom salts
  (Relieves muscle tension and supports magnesium levels for relaxation.)

• 2 Tbsp baking soda
  (Softens water and soothes the skin.)

• 1 Tbsp dried chamomile flowers (optional)
  (To calm the nerves and enhance the soothing element.)

• 10 drops lavender essential oil (optional)
  (Balances Gemini’s energy and promotes peaceful thoughts.)

• Muslin bag or reusable tea sachet

Directions:

Combine the Gemini Zodiac Blend, Epsom salts, baking soda, and (if using) chamomile in a bowl. Add essential oil drops and mix well. Spoon 3 Tablspoons of mixture into a muslin bag or sachet. Store remaining in a tightly lidded jar. 

To Use: Hang the bag under the faucet as you fill the tub with warm water, allowing the herbs to steep and release their fragrance. Soak for 20–30 minutes. Breathe deeply, relax, and let your thoughts float like the air sign you are.

Seven Herbal Gift Ideas for Mom - to make and buy

There are many gift ideas for Mom that incorporate herbs. Here are a few perfect examples, several of which you can make yourself:

1. Herbal Tea Set: Give your mom a collection of her favorite herbal teas, along with a beautiful teapot and a set of tea cups. This gift is perfect for mothers who love to relax with a cup of tea after a long day. Teapot Gifts and Tea Gifts.

2. Herbal Bath Salts: Herbal bath salts are a great way to provide relaxation and rejuvenation. You can make your own bath salts using dried herbs such as lavender, rose petals, and chamomile, or you can purchase pre-made herbal bath salts.

We shared this recipe on the blog back in May 2023, but here is a quick blend of salts to pamper skin.

Pampering Bath Salts

• 1 1/2 cups Epsom salts
•  3/4 cup baking soda
• 3/4 cup herbs (finely ground)

Combine everything in a jar and shake well.  Add 2 to 4 Tablespoons directly to the bath or place in a mesh or organza bag and swish to dissolve the salts.

3. Herbal Soaps: Another great gift for mom is herbal soaps. Especially soaps made from natural ingredients and infused with essential oils and dried herbs, providing a pleasant aroma and gentle cleansing.  I get my herbal soaps from Soapy Roads here in Lombard and you can order online too!

4. Herbal Body Oils: Herbal body oils are a great way to nourish the skin and provide a relaxing massage. You can make your own body oils by infusing carrier oils with dried herbs such as lavender, rose petals, and chamomile or you can just use essential oils in a carrier oil.

Essential oils like lavender, lemon, and eucalyptus come with benefits. But other oils—like black pepper, clove, and peppermint—can irritate the skin, so choose carefully. To make a safe, DIY bath oil blend five to 20 drops of an essential oil with one tablespoon of a carrier oil (like grapeseed, jojoba, almond, or argan oil). Add the oil right before you're about to get into the bath to keep it from evaporating.

5. Herbal Sachets: Herbal sachets are small bags filled with dried herbs, which can be placed in drawers or closets to provide a pleasant aroma and natural pest control. You can make your own sachets using herbs such as lavender, rose petals, and chamomile. RECipe

Romantic Evening Dreams

• 1/2 cup rose petals
• 1/2 cup rosemary
• 1/4 cup lavender flowers
• 2 lemon verbena leaves, crushed
• 1 teaspoon mint
• 4 whole cloves
• 1 small piece of cinnamon stick, 1 inch long, broken up

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a large jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake to combine.  Allow to meld for at least 2 days before placing in a sachet.

For a simple pillow, fill a 3- to 5-inch drawstring bag with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of chosen herbs; draw strings and tie closed.

TO USE: place the sachet inside the pillowcase or under the pillow and inhale deeply as you fall asleep.  Enjoy the dreams!

6. Herb Garden: Giving an herb garden can be a great gift for a mom who likes gardening, cooking or both. You can give her a small indoor herb garden or a larger outdoor one.  Try these seed papers or these plant seedlings.

7. Herbal Candles : Herbal candles are a great way to provide a pleasant aroma and relaxation. You can make your own candles using beeswax and essential oils, or purchase pre-made herbal candles or those with pressed flowers.

All these gifts are thoughtful and can be personalized to your mom's preferences and interests, and can be a great way to show her how much you care.

Spring Awakening Bath Soak Recipe - Bath Blend of the Month

Benefits of Ingredients in this simple bath sachet:

Peppermint:

Peppermint is known for its invigorating and refreshing properties. It can help to relieve headaches, reduce muscle pain, and improve mental clarity. The cooling sensation it provides is perfect for awakening the senses.

Eucalyptus:

Eucalyptus has powerful anti-inflammatory and decongestant properties. It's excellent for soothing sore muscles, easing respiratory issues, and providing a sense of calm. The aromatic fragrance helps to clear the mind and revitalize the spirit.

Lemon Balm:

Lemon balm is celebrated for its calming and uplifting effects. It can help to reduce stress, anxiety, and promote a sense of well-being. The gentle citrus aroma adds a delightful freshness, making it ideal for a spring-themed soak.

Embrace the energy of the new season and rejuvenate your spirit with this refreshing and revitalizing bath blend.

Spring Awakenings Bath Soak  

1 cup of dried peppermint leaves 

1 cup of dried eucalyptus leaves  

1/2 cup of dried lemon balm 

10 drops of peppermint essential oil

10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil

Directions:

Mix the dried peppermint, eucalyptus, and lemon balm in a bowl.  Add the essential oils to the dried mix, and blend thoroughly. Store in a jar with a tight fitting lid.

·      TO USE: Fill muslin bags or rounds of cheesecloth with 2 to 4 TBLS of the mixture and tie securely. Place a bag in your warm bath water and let it steep for a few minutes before entering the tub. Relax and enjoy!

Large Scale Bath Bag Blend Wedding Favor - Bath Blend of the Month

Bath bags make a scented gift that is good not only for the bath but also as a sachet or aromatherapy item.  Need a gift for those at work, or even a party favor for a special event or wedding this is a perfect recipe. This recipe is very large making 1,100 -- 1/2 cup bath bags (or about 550 cups of bath bag blend.)  You can make half  or 1/4 of the recipe instead if your need is not this large.

Large Scale Bath Bag Blend

• 25 pounds (300 cups) lavender
• 6 pounds (96 cups) lemon verbena
• 7 pounds (84 cups) chamomile
• 2 pounds (32 cups) valerian root
• 2 pounds (24 cups) marjoram
• 1 pound (16 cups) linden blossoms

Mix all ingredients together adding valerian a bit at a time to get it mixed in thoroughly.

Measure 1/2 cup into cotton muslin bags and attach a label with use instructions.  

To Use:You can either toss the bag into the water or hang it from the bath spout under the running water. Allow the bag to soak for several minutes before adding cold water to adjust to your preferred temperature. Then, get in and enjoy! It really is that simple.

Lemon Mint Bath Tub Tea - Monthly Bath Blend

Herbal bath teas are used to obtain the relaxing and therapeutic benefits of herbs in a simple format. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the many office tasks, household chores and family functions that require our attention.  Our bodies requirement rest and relaxation to rejuvenate. The use of herbal bath teas is it is an inexpensive method to have relaxation and to have the calming feeling of the herbs. Because of the relaxing as well as the calming feelings it provides, it is an ages old method to gather the healing and therapeutic benefits of herbs.

Herbal bath teas are great for our skin. And it is easy to make your own personal herbal bath tea.  Two great ingredients to include in an herbal tub tea are lemon and mint

Juice from the lemon can give a cleaning effect to the skin balancing the acid levels and removing dead skin cells, making younger and fresh-looking skin. Lemon herbs also have calming and soothing capabilities, like lemon balm which adds to happy thoughts and lemon verbena. Mint, especially peppermint, allows better oxygen circulation in your body which help the body to properly repair itself.

Lemon Mint Bath Tea

½ cup dry lemon balm

¼ cup dry lemon verbena

¼ cup dry peppermint leaves

1 lemon, sliced

Directions:

Combine the dry ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid.  Shake to combine.  Measure ¼ to ½ cup dry ingredients into a coffee filter and tie closed to use. 

TO USE:  place herbs in coffee filter in a saucepan of 1 cup of water and bring to boil.  Remove from heat and allow to steep 10 minutes or more.  Draw a warm bath and place lemon slices in warm drawn bath and then pour the steeped tea into the bath water.  Slip in an enjoy the relaxing and soothing benefits.

Serenity Bath Tub Tea - Bath Blend of the Month

This is a large recipe of bath blend that allows you to make enough to use for yourself and for gifts.  The herbs are chosen for their relaxing qualities.  

Lavender - in addition to being relaxing and soothing due to its scent. Lavender is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and antiseptic which makes it perfect treatment for damaged skin.

Chamomile - soothes nerves and aids relaxation while reducing redness and irritation to the skin.

Comfrey - this cure-all herb with extreme anti-inflammatory properties aid the repair of skin.

St John's Wort - a mood regulator, great for help stemming depression and anxiety.

Jasmine - this is a relaxation herb through scent and skin absorption that will aid sleep.

Lemon verbena - has sedative properties which make it perfect for relaxation and it is also good for treating illness and stress.
 

Serenity Bath Tea

 1 cup lavender buds

½ cup St. Johns Wort

½ cup chamomile

½ cup comfrey

½ cup jasmine flowers

½ cup lemon verbena

8 drops lemon essential oil

8 drops lavender essential oil


Combine all ingredients in a glass jar and shake to combine. Use 1/4 cup of mixture in a cotton muslin bag or coffee filter tied with string.  Makes about 12 bags

To Use: Steep one bag in 1 cup of warm water for then pour that liquid into the bath.  Soak and relax.

Oatmeal Floral Deluxe Milk Bath - Monthly Bath Blend

October is a month where your skin starts to dry out.  The heat may be on in the hime, the sun screen is not liberally applied anymore, and because it is no longer hot you are drinking less water and your skin begins to dry out.

Bath sachets (also known as bath tea) make a lovely, luxurious soak that can be beneficial to skin, ease stress and help soothe aches and pains. These steep in the tub, making a luxurious soak. If some tender therapy is needed to ease sore feet, you can try these as a foot soak instead.

Obtain a drawstring pouch or make a bag out of cheesecloth, organza, terry cloth or muslin, large enough to hold anywhere from 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of this herbal mix. Tie them tightly shut so the loose ingredients won’t float out. After use the contents can be emptied, the pouches rinsed out then washed to be refilled and reused.

These amounts will make a batch at a time to be stored in an airtight container until needed.

Oatmeal Floral Deluxe Milk Bath 
1/2 cup powdered milk
1/2 cup Epsom salt
1/8 cup baking soda
2 Tbls cornstarch
1 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup lavender

Preparation:
Fill the bag with a 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the Sachet Blend. Two ways these can be enjoyed, either hang them on the tap while the hot water is running, making sure the water is running through them. Once the tub is filled, let them float around.  Or the Infusion Method: Boil a quart of water, turn off heat, add pouch, cover, then steep (for at least 20 minutes for best results). Add the piping hot infusion (and the bag) to a full tub, being careful while pouring to avoid burning yourself.
Note: Do not steep in an aluminum pot.

Re-energizing Bath Sachet - Monthly Bath Recipe

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This is a blend similar to our previous energizing bath sachet from 2017, but this one is perfect with summer available herbs.   Mix it ahead and keep in a jar near the tub.  Then place 1/4 cup of blend in a muslin bag or wrap in a terry cloth washcloth.  

Re-energizing Bath Sachet

½ cup lavender flowers
½ cup lemon verbena
½ cup finely chopped orange or lemon peel
10 drops lavender essential oil
6 drops lemon grass oil
Fills 8 bags

Blend the herbs together in a bowl or glass jar, then add each essential oil separately and stir to combine.  Allow to meld overnight, then set aside and fill bags as needed, or pre-fill muslin bags and store in an airtight container.  This recipe will make up to 8 bags.

To Use: Place filled bag under the tap while bath is filling, then slide into the water.  Use the bag as a scrubby to get even more herbal energy!

Summer Lemon Bath Blend - Monthly Bath Blend

Lemon baths are especially refreshing in hot weather.  The healing agents in lemons will refresh & revive tired skin.  Lemons will also cool the skin, and help tighten large pores!  For this recipe you will use lemons, and lemon herbs to get a variety of lemon and herb benefits. Lemon Balm with help you maintain a sunny disposition.

Lemon Bath Recipe

Squeeze and drop 5-6 lemons into your running bath.
Add to a muslin bag  1 Tbls Lemon Basil (fresh or dry)
                                  1 Tbls Lemon Balm (fresh or dry)
                                  1 Tbls Lemon Thyme (fresh or dry)

Place the herbs in a muslin bag or tie into a cotton wash cloth and drop into the water.
Soak & relax.

NOTE: If you don’t have lemons, 3/4 cup of bottled lemon juice will work just as well.   

Energizing Bath Sachet Blend - Bath Blend of the Month

The days are getting noticeably shorter now, so a pick me up may be needed.  This energizing bath blend could be just what you need.  Mix it up and place 1/4 cup of blend in a muslin bag.  You can make the bags ahead or keep blend in a jar and place 1/4 cup in a muslin bag or terry cloth and drop in the bath while it is filling.

Energizing Bath Sachet Blend

½ cup lavender buds

½ cup peppermint leaves, crumbled

½ cup spearmint leaves, crumbled

½ cup lemon grass, cut small

8 drops lavender essential oil

10 drops lemongrass oil

5 drops each peppermint & spearmint essential oil

Blend the herbs together in a plastic bowl, then add each essential oil separately and stir to combine.  Allow to meld overnight, then fill muslin bags and store in an airtight container.  This recipe will make up to 8 bags.

To Use: Place filled bag under the tap while bath is filling, then slide into the water.  Use the bag as a scrubby to get even more herbal energy!

Lavender Oat Sachets - Bath Blend of the Month

Lavender Oatmeal Sachet

2 cups plain old fashioned oats
1 tablespoon dried lavender buds
2 tsp. chamomile flowers
1/2 cup baking soda
small muslin bags

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender or a food processor and pulse until the mixture looks like flour.

Fill each muslin bag with the mixture and tie shut. If you don’t have muslin bags, you can simply add about 1/3 cup to a hot bath, under running water.  I prefer using a muslin bag to hold homemade bath soaks because it cuts down on clean up time.

This blend can be stored in a glass jar and just fill the muslin bag as needed.  When done, just dump out the contents and rinse the bag out to dry for next time. 

We currently make these as a product of Backyard Patch Herbs, so you can get 5 draw-string tea bags of this mixture in a colored canning jar.

Muscle Saver Bath - Bath Blend of the Month

Much garden work is being done at my house as I put in gardens where none were before.  The shoveling, the raking, the building of raised beds, it is all good for me, but my muscles sometimes scream in protest.  This aromatic bath is good for relaxing muscles and relieving stress.  It is also valuable to those with arthritis.  I find this is very helpful when my hands start aching. Juniper berry’s essential oil breaks down the surface tension of the epidermis helping the skin absorb the beneficial aspects of the remaining herbs.

Muscle-Saver Bath 

1 tsp. juniper berries

2 Tbls. dried peppermint

2 Tbls. dried spearmint

2 Tbls lavender flowers and leaves

Place all the ingredients in a square of muslin or a handkerchief, tie up with string.  Or place in an unbleached muslin bag or coffee filter.  Place the bag in the tub while it fills with water.  The bag acts like a giant tea bag, turning your bath into a therapeutic herbal tea.  Use the soaked bag to scrub your skin.  If you prefer a shower, soak the bag of herbs in the shower and then use it like a washcloth.

Monthly Bath Blend - Tub Teas

Bath teas are fun! Big teabags filled with scented herbs and other special ingredients that you just toss in your tub and soak.

The best way to use a tub tea is to brew it. Place the bag in 1 cup of water in a saucepan and boil for 10 to 15 minutes.  Place the resulting liquid in the bath water of a filled tub.  You can also just place the tea bag in tub while you fill it, or if you don't take baths, you can use them as a foot soak or shower scrub (simply wet the teabag then gently use it as a herbal washcloth for your skin).

We are including a free bath tea with every order in the month of April. You will receive our choice of bath tea – we now have five different blends available.  We will choose one that suits the herbs in your order.

NEW - Lavender Mint Tub Tea is excellent for refreshing and cleansing, perfect for oily skin.

NEW - Soothing Chamomile and Comfrey is fabulous for sunburn, rashes, irritated skin, or chicken pox!

Original Bath Tub Tea is a combination of many herbs and flowers of a soothing bath.

Green Tea Tub Tea is a combination of green tea and herbs like calendula that  are especially soothing to the skin.

Secret Garden Tub Tea is a blend of flowers that will take you to a floral heaven while it relaxes and soothes.

If you want to try your hand at your own Tub Tea, try this one:

Total Relaxation Tub Tea

1 tsp. dried lavender flowers

1 tsp. marjoram leaves

1 tsp. chamomile

Combine into a tea bag or coffee filter and use as described above.

Monthly Bath Blend - Cinnful MIlk Bath

Salts can be drying in the winter, so I like to use blends that have no salt in the tub from time to time.  This blend is made with Backyard Patch Cinnful Dessert Blend.

Milk, especially powdered milk, is great for soothing the skin and making it silky soft.  Coupled with cornstarch and you have a rich bath that will cool down the winter burn and aid skin healing.  Add to that the lovely seasonal scent of cinnamon and you have a real treat.

Cinnfull Milk Bath

1 cup powdered milk
1 cup baking soda
3 Tbls. cornstarch
2 Tbls. cream of tartar
1 1/2 Tbls. BYP Cinnfull Dessert Blend

Combine all the ingredients together in a tightly lidded jar and shake vigorously.  Once they are combined scoop a couple of tablespoons into a warm bath and enjoy the scent.  If you want to avoid a brown ring (cinnamon does not dissolve) place the mixture in a coffee filter and bind with a rubber band before placing in the tub.

Handmade gifts are great for these People

• Delivery Person - Whether you have a regular pizza delivery person, or a grocery store delivery service, you'll be able to have a gift for them.
• Neighbors - New people moving into your neighborhood, or moving out. Do you have a neighbor that's struggling financially, they'll never know your trying to help.  I have new neighbors so I will use it to introduce myself.
• Parents - My parents get harder to buy for every year, so I make them gifts in a jar whenever I can't think of anything else.
• Boss and Co-Workers -How about that office party or gift exchange with co-workers, instead of giving a gift within the set price range give a gift that can be used. We do an exchange at the Garden Club and I love to give a handmade edible as a gift.
• Child's Teacher - Christmas can be an expensive month for most of us, and when your child throws in "mom I want to give my teacher a gift", it can sure add up especially if you have more than one child.
• Landlord - If you have good landlords then why not give them a gift at Christmas time, gifts in a jar cost hardly anything to make except your time.
• Mail Carrier - There are people that give money or gift cards to their postman/women, why not be a little different.
• Grandparents - With today's economy it's hard for the elderly to make ends meet, give a little help and make them a gift that they'll be able to use and benefit from.
• Sister - Maybe you’re not as close to your sister as you'd like or maybe you have no idea what to get her. I have made gifts in a jar not only for my sister but for my husband’s brothers and sisters-in-law as well.

So now that I have given you list of recipients you have several choices. You can give them one of the Backyard Patch Items in a Jar – all of which are available here:

Bouquet Garni in a Jar 

Stacking Jar with seasonings

Stacking Jar with single Herbs

Bath Tower 

Tub Tea in a colored Mason

Or you can make one of these:

Spiral Pasta Soup in a Jar

2 Tbls. dried basil
1 tsp Herbs de Provence
1/2 tsp celery seed
1/2 tsp garlic powder (not garlic salt)
1/4 tsp ground pepper
1/4 cup dried onions

4 chicken bouillon cubes
3/4 cup dried tortellini
Fill the rest of the jar with the tri-colored spiral pasta.

Cover the top of the jar with a circle of fabric held in place with a rubber band. Cover the rubber band with a twist of raffia or a ribbon and small bow. Tie on the instructions.

RECIPE TO ATTACH TO JAR

1 jar spiral soup mix

8 cups water

2 cups crushed or diced tomatoes

Bring water and tomatoes to a boil in a large soup pot.  Add the spiral soup mix and simmer uncovered about 15 minutes, or until pasta is tender.

Icebox pickles

Cucumbers

4 cups sugar

4 cups vinegar

1 ½ tsp. turmeric

1 ½ tsp. celery seed

1 ½ tsp. mustard seed

1 Tbls. pickling salt

Slice cucumbers to fill a gallon jar or 4 quart jars.  Combine remaining ingredients and add to jar(s).  Keep in the refrigerator for 2 weeks before eating.  Keeps in the refrigerator for 3 months.

Note: for a more interesting flare, try 2 Tbls. BackyardPatch pickling spice instead of turmeric, celery seed and mustard seed.

Spiced Lemon Tea Mix

½ cup lemon herbs (lemon thyme, lemon balm, lemon verbena)

1 Tbls. lemon peel

1 Tbls. ginger

2 tsp. allspice

2 tsp. cloves

Blend all ingredients together. Store in a sealed jar.

To use: add 1 to 2 tsp. per cup of boiling water.

Citrus Bath Salts

2 Cups Epsom Salts

1 Cup Baking Soda

 Fresh Grated Zest from 1 Orange or Lemon

20 drops of citrus essential oil (you can use all lemon or lemon verbena, but a mixture with tangerine, orange and grapefruit with the lemon is more stimulating).

Combine Epsom Salts and Baking Soda in a bowl.  Grate zest of orange or lemon and add to bowl. Stir ingredients together. Slowly add in about 20 drops of essential oil one drop at a time and stir until well incorporated.  

Spoon the citrus bath salts into a clean empty jar and seal. Let your bath salts sit for a day or two to get infused with the scent of the oil. If giving as a gift, embellish with a ribbon, tag or whatever you like.

To use: add one to two Tablespoons to the bath while running.  You can also use the salts as a body scrub in the shower, but watch for slipper floors.

Simmer Jar Gifts

Directions: Use a pint (2 cup) jar, container, or pot to combine scent waters. Add ingredients to container, cover with water, and choose from these options:
  --simmer on stove top, topping off with more water as it evaporates
  --add heated mixture to a slow cooker, fondue pot, or something similar that will keep mixture heated. Preheat waters to a boil (in microwave or on stove top). As water evaporates, always top it off with HOT water to keep the temperature as high as possible. Higher heat = more fragrance.

FRAGRANT COMBINATIONS:
1. Orange, Cinnamon & Spice. 1 orange, 2 cinnamon sticks (or 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon), 1/2 tablespoon whole cloves (or 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves), 1/2 tablespoon whole allspice (or 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice), 1 anise star (optional)
2. Lemon, Rosemary & Vanilla. 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary, 2 lemons, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
3. Lime, Thyme, Mint & Vanilla. 3 limes, 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme, 1/2 teaspoon mint extract, 1 teaspoon vanilla.
4. Orange, Ginger, & Almond. 1 orange (or peel from 2 oranges), one 4" finger of ginger, sliced (or 1 tsp ground ginger), 1/2 teaspoon almond extract.
5. Pine, Bay Leaves, & Nutmeg. Handful of pine twigs or needles, 4 bay leaves, 1 whole nutmeg, outer layer grated into mixture.

Scented waters may be refrigerated between uses. Reuse for 2-3 days, or as long as they still have a pleasant fragrance.

To give as gift, pack ingredients into 1 pint Mason jar and place a tag on them with instructions for use.  Keep them in your refrigerator until ready to gift and remind receiver to do the same.

To USE: Keep refrigerated until ready to use. Simmer in pan on stove top, or heat and add to slow cooker set on low; add more water as it evaporates.

Monthly Bath Recipe - Spring Wonder Bath

This bath will help rejuvenate your dry skin and give you a new vigor of the first blossoming of Spring!

Basic Starter:

1 1/2 cup powdered milk
1/2 cup Epsom salt
1/8 cup baking soda
2 Tbls. cornstarch

Spring Wonder Bath:

• 1/2 cup basic starter
• 1/2 cup oatmeal
• 1/4 cup lavender

Instructions:

Create the base or starter blend.  Use 1/2 cup of starter blended with oatmeal and lavender.  Place in a glass jar and shake to blend.  

Make drawstring pouches out of cheesecloth, organza or muslin, enough to hold anywhere from 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of the herbal mix. Tie about 1/2 cup of the blend into a bag and tie tightly shut so the loose ingredients won’t float out. After use, the contents can be emptied, the pouches rinsed out, washed, then refilled and reused.

To Use:

Hanging method: Two ways these can be enjoyed, either hang a sachet on the tap while the hot water is running, making sure the water is running through it. Once the tub is filled, let them float around.

Infusion Method: Boil a quart of water, turn off heat, add pouch, cover, then steep (for at least 20 minutes for best results). Add the piping hot infusion (and the bag) to a full tub, being careful while pouring to avoid burning yourself.

Note: Do not steep in an aluminum pot.

10 Top Recipes from 2014 - Weekend Recipes

I was more diligent about posting my recipes in 2014.  I shared them on Facebook and here in the Blog and linked a few back to my Twitter account as well.

These are the top 10 recipes from my posts last year.  I thought I would gather them together so if you missed them, you can see what others are enjoying as well.

This year we will continue to dig into our stash of recipes and post one at least every weekend with more shared in the Herb of the Week posts too!

#10 most popular - Cinnamon Roasted Pumpkin - Our Cinnful Dessert blend was another big hit with surplus pumpkin seeds.

#9  Iced Green Tea Chai - Chai is even better in the summer with a bit of ice than you would expect after drinking it rich and hot all winter!

#8 Ratatouille on the Grill this a great vegetarian meal!

#7 Flavored Mustard - we will take another pilgrimage to the Mustard Museum in 2015 and I am sure we will have more of these for you.  I love a flavored mustard on my sandwiches and in my cooking.

#6 Saffron Risotto - This rare and expensive herb is just worth trying at least once a year and this creamy recipes is a perfect partner.

#5 Mid Winter Minestrone - When it is cold a hearty partner like this will keep you warm.

#4 Bee Balm Recipes - This was an extension of an Herb of the Week where I shared more than one recipes using this prolific and citrusy herb.  I know you will love the flavors as much as I do!

#3 Soothing Bath Sachet - my bath recipes were among the most popular and this simple sachet with soothing milk was one of my favorites.

#2 Chicken Pot Roast in a Crock Pot - This one has my chef husbands seal of approval.  The Chicken is tender, the vegetables tasty and the fragrance is wonderful as it fills the house.  Great way to try out lima beans if you have been leery...

#1 The most popular recipes in 2014 - Sporty Bath Blend - great smelling when you are not, this blend is good as a bath or a foot soak.

Once a Month Bath Recipe - Hard Days End Bath Blend

January is a hard month.  The recovery from the holidays as well as the cold and harsh winter weather in the north combine to make this month difficult for the skin and the mind.  A soothing bath will help to soothe these ills. Here is a perfect blend to create.

Hard Days End

• 1/2 Cup Lavender
• 1/2 Cup Uncooked Oatmeal
• 1/4 Cup Dry Orange Peel
• 1/2 Cup Chamomile
• 1/4 Cup Rosemary
• 12 Bay Leaves, Crushed

Mix any of the following blends as dry ingredients. Stir well and stuff a metal tea ball or muslin bag with the blend (lace or cotton fabric will also work). As you run your bath, place the tea ball or bag in the tub, under the running water. Then, relax and enjoy!

** Each month around the fourth, we post a bath salt, scrub, or other blend or recipe that you can make at home for your bath!

If you love Bath and Sap items, check them out on our website.

Herb-themed Holiday Gift Sets - Backyard Patch style

This year I had abundant herbs.  The cooler weather with hot flashes and abundant rain made the herbs happier than any of my vegetable plants.

On the left is the thyme bed at my community garden and on the right is a portion of the Mediterranean wing, with savory, oregano, fennel and calendula.  The purple flowering plant in the back is traditional hyssop.

With the herbs being lush we were able to craft more tea and herb cooking blends then usual and this got me to thinking about ways to package them to make the perfect gifts.

For the Tea Lover

Tea to go sampler

A pretty window box holds a demi tea cup (no saucer) and three small (.5 oz) tea tins with blends of your choice.  Each box with be perfect for gifting, tied with ribbon including a tea infuser and ship-ready.  

Tea Towers

Along the same lines as the sampler we have full-sized Tea Tin Towers.  With a tea tower you get 3 or 5 teas in our full-sized 2 oz. tins gathered with ribbon into a tower of flavor.  Tied to the ribbon will be a bead-decorated tea infuser.  You can choose the teas included in the tower, or use our premade-choices. We have a three-tea tower  or a  five-tea tower  

For the Foodie in your life

Popping Popcorn Sprinkles 

We have had a popcorn shaker seasoning for several years, but this year we crafted two more to make it a threesome. We placed two (your choice) in decorative shaker jars holding .75 oz., along with an ear of microwavable popcorn.  The set is packaged in clear cellophane bag with a decorative ribbon tie and full instructions.  This gift will have a pretty tag and each flavor will be labeled.  They include: Original Popcorn Sprinkle, Cheesy Herb Sprinkle, Spicy Hot Sprinkle.

I have long thought that packaging herb seasoning blends in groups was a great idea, but I never could find the right medium.  This year I found the perfect jars and containers. We have two different sets

Everyday Seasoning Kit

This is a single herbs kit with 6 different individual herbs. We call it a Seasoning Tower.  The tins are in a colorful cardboard tube with a holiday ribbon.  Serval different colors of tube are available.

Soup Mix Gift Sets

Our soup mixes are a popular gift item and the new packaging we created last year has really helped with that.  This year we decided on a few gift combinations you can check them all out in our soup collection on the website

For the Queen (or King) in need of relaxation

Bath items are very prolific online so our items, even though they are crafted without chemicals from herbs raised organically, do not stand out.  We have decided to fix that.  We are repackaging our Bath and Spa items in a whole new way.  

Bath Salts

Many different versions of Bath Salts -- the Skin-Soothing Bath Salts, Relaxing Combination Salts and the Milk Salt Blends will all be available in lovely and colorful organza bags instead of the envelopes we have used in the past.  And the best part of this is there will be no change in price. They are still available for $3.25 for 3 ounces.  Now you can mix and match to create sets too.  We have them listed in a Bath Collection.

Bath Salt Sundae

Is this not a cleaver idea.  I was tossing around bath scrubbies as I was putting them away and one fell onto a mason jar and suddenly I got to thinking if it was a parfait glass it would look like a Sundae!  So here is a bath salt-filled parfait glass, complete with a red tulle wrapped rose herb soap as the "cherry" on top! This is another gift perfect for teachers, groomers and others life helpers!

Bath Tower

Like our tea tower this collection of 3 bath salts will be packaged in square boxes tied together with colorful ribbon to create a wonderful gift package that will need no additional wrapping. 

Bath Tub Tea

With 4 different blends of Bath tub tea to share we thought it was time the presentation got a facelift.  We are making a decorative tea bag with raffia tie that can hang from the faucet.  The tea filter bags will be filled with a single bath measure of herbs and packaged in groups of 3 ($4.95) and 5 ($7.95) in a pretty decorated cellophane bag or a set of 10 that will be presented in a colored mason jar ($20.00).

We are hoping you enjoy our special gift selection as much as we enjoy making them!